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Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 14):
Question:
Regarding the monitoring of the levels of pesticide residues in fruits imported to Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether there is a mechanism for monitoring imported fruits; if so, of the scope and process of monitoring; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) of the methods for determining the levels of pesticide residues in imported fruits, the criteria used for comparing the highest levels of pesticide residues in different fruit samples, and the way to determine the maximum residue limits for fruits which are not prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations;
(c) of the details of the sample checks conducted by the authorities on the levels of pesticide residues in imported fruits in the past three years, including the respective numbers of samples taken in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories for inspection, the respective percentages of each type of the fruits involved in the total number of samples inspected, the respective numbers of samples of each type of fruits which contain pesticide residues exceeding the permitted levels and their respective percentages in the total number of such samples; and
(d) whether different monitoring methods or standards are applied to fruits imported from different places of origin, and whether, according to the risks posed by various types of fruits in different seasons, higher-risk fruits are particularly targeted for inspection during a particular season; if so, of the relevant methods or standards, the list of higher-risk fruits in different seasons and the number of relevant samples taken for inspection; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) Apart from taking samples of imported fruits for tests at the border entry points, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) also take fruit samples at the wholesale and retail levels for tests on pesticide residues at the Government Laboratory to ensure that the fruits on sale in the markets are safe and fit for human consumption.
(b) In testing for pesticide residues in imported fruits, we make reference to the standards of Codex Alimentarius Commission and the results of scientific analyses and risk assessments. In conducting risk assessments, we would compare the intake level of the pesticides from the food concerned, as derived from the amount of residues present in a certain food product and the consumption data per capita of that particular food, with the safety standards set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation experts to estimate whether the residual amount of pesticide would pose a health hazard.
(c) Over the past three years, FEHD has taken about 480 samples of different kinds of fruits at the entry points, wholesale and retail levels for tests on pesticide residues. Please refer to Annex for the kinds of fruits being tested. Amongst the samples tested, only one papaya sample was found to contain methamidophos at an amount of 1 part per million in 2003. We do not have any separate figures on the number of fruit samples taken from Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories.
(d) Based on scientific analysis and the risk concerned, FEHD takes appropriate number of samples from different kinds of food for tests under its regular food surveillance programme. As fruits are not considered to be at high risk, the number of samples taken is limited. However, FEHD would adjust the types and number of fruit samples as appropriate. For instance, it would step up tests on seasonal fruits such as lychee and longan between June and September every year.
Ends/Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:45
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